Geographical Indications (GIs) are important for many businesses and particularly agriculture and related value –added industries. There is a significant worldwide debate about the appropriate regulatory structure for GIs. The debate is not entirely new as there has been some considerable trans-Atlantic disagreement over appropriate protection for many years and the overlap with agricultural policy has fuelled this disagreement. In brief, the regulatory debate is centred on whether a sui generis regime(s) is appropriate or whether trade mark (particularly certification or collective trade marks) are enough. The framework issues are not merely technical but involve large policy questions about the appropriate regime to support agriculture, rural development and broad cultural interests. Added to this are questions around different types of products and whether some merit more protection than others. At present wines and spirits have a heightened level of GI protection. The TRIPS Agreement provides a minimum standards level of protection. Since TRIPS several trade agreements including bi-laterals (e.g. AUSFTA, KORUS, Singapore – EU and Korea- EU), mega-regionals (e.g. TPP, CETA) have incorporated variations on and clarifications to the TRIPS framework, or in the case of EU partnership agreements TRIPS –plus sui generis regime requirements. In addition to trade agreements there is the Lisbon Agreement at WIPO, which was controversially renegotiated in 2015. This conference will discuss the issues that arise in the global patchwork.

Overview of goals:
The purpose of this event is to provide the policy and business community with knowledge and a practical understanding of the worldwide GI debate and to consider the issues in the framework of what is important both internationally and for New Zealand.

Overall the event will provide a forum for practical and informed discussion about this area of regulation which has a direct impact on agricultural products in particular, New Zealand’s export markets, and potential and existing innovation in that sector and others.

Confirmed Speakers:
Daren Tang, Chief Executive, Intellectual Property Office of Singapore
Matthijs Geuze, Former Head of the Lisbon Registry, WIPO (until retirement in February 2016)
Elizabeth Barham, Research Associate, Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies (CAST), University of Arkansas; Founder and Executive Director,  American Origin Products Association and American Origin Products Research Foundation
Carwyn Jones, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Victoria University of Wellington
Daniel Gervais, Professor of Law, Vanderbilt Law School
Justin Hughes, Hon. William Matthew Byrne Professor of Law, Loyola Law School
Irene Calboli, Deputy Director, Applied Research Centre for Intellectual Assets and the Law in Asia, Singapore Management University and Professor, Texas A & M School of Law
Peter Drahos, Professor in Law and the Director of the Centre for the Governance of Knowledge and Development in the Regulatory Institutions Network, Australian National University
Susy Frankel, Professor of Law, Faculty of Law, Victoria University of Wellington
John Overton and Warwick Murray, Professors, School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington

The conference programme is available here.

Conference registration is closed.

• Standard Registration (including conference dinner, 4 August)): NZD$420.00
• Full-time Student Registration (ID required, dinner not included): NZD$80.00
• Promo code for Full-time Student Registration fee: VGEOFT

Further details:
If you would like more information about your registration, please contact us on:
Ph: 64 4 463 6556 Email: profdev@vuw.ac.nz.

Students: please email or phone us to purchase a conference dinner ticket.